Special Representative for Global Partnerships Kris Balderston to Lead Delegation to Ireland and Northern Ireland with Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Assistant Secretary Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones

Media Note

Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

November 14, 2012

On November 14-16, Special Representative Balderston and Assistant Secretary Jones will lead an Innovation Delegation of entrepreneurs and technology leaders to Ireland and Northern Ireland to explore partnership opportunities that promote science and technology innovation and build connections with the U.S.-Ireland R&D Partnership, which seeks to accelerate economic development and research by encouraging collaboration and coordination between U.S., Irish and Northern Irish scientists and related industries to bring innovations to market.

On November 14, Special Representative Balderston, Assistant Secretary Dr. Jones, and delegates will travel to Dublin, Ireland to meet with government officials, trade association leaders, and renewable energy innovators to discuss opportunities for partnership to promote investment in science and technology-related enterprise development. Mr. Balderston and Dr. Jones will also speak to local business leaders, researchers, and academics about the role of universities in “Spurring Innovation and Entrepreneurship to Solve Real-World Problems” at the Biomedical Sciences Institute at Trinity College.

Mr. Balderston, Dr. Jones, and the delegation will travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 15-16, where delegates will meet with young entrepreneurs, academics, and organizations that are investing in information technology and developing cross-border social development and business opportunities. Delegates will also meet with local government officials to identify potential investment and partnership opportunities in the emerging creative industries such as digital film and digital animation, application and game development.

Special Representative Balderston and Assistant Secretary Jones’ trip reflects the continued U.S. commitment to promote cross-border understanding through science and technology partnerships and innovation.

Mr. Balderston will then travel to Vienna from November 18-20 to speak at UNIDO’s 2012 Global South-South Cooperation Expo about enhancing South-South cooperation through public-private partnerships that promote sustainable economic growth and development in emerging and frontier markets. Last year, Mr. Balderston accepted an award on behalf of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves for Global South-South Partnership of the Year.

For updates, follow Special Representative Balderston at Twitter @GPIatState and @KrisatState.

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